Bit.



No. 804,700. PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905. A. L. BETHE.

BIT.

APPLICATION FILED APE.27.1905.

3 SHEETSSHBET 1.

PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905.

A. L. BETHE.

BIT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1905.

%2 Be /7 a PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905.

A. L. BETHE.

BIT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w/m QWWZ Q AUGUST L. BETHE, OF HANOVER, GERMANY.

BIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 14, 1905.

Application filed April 27, 1905. Serial No. 257.722.

To 1/. whom, it ntay concern.-

Be it known thatl, AUGUST L. BnTHn, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,residing at Hanover, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Bits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bits, the object of the invention being toprovide a simple device of this character which can be used as anordinary bit or upon fractious or vicious horses to control or checkthem.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification Iillustrate a bit involving my invention, which I will describe in detailin the following description, while the novelty of the invention will becovered in the claims succeeding said description.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the bit, showing thesame in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a like view of the bit, showingthe manner in which it is used to check an unruly horse. Figs. 3 and atare side elevations of the bit in positions corresponding, respectively,with Figs. 1 and 2. In said Figs. 3 and 1 I have shown certainbit-operating devices. Figs. 5 and 6 are views corresponding to Figs. 3and a, respectively, and showing the bit applied to a horse and theordinary mode of its operation and the way in which it operates incontrolling a fractious horse, respectively. Fig. 7 is a detail view ofa slighfly-modified form of frame at the end of the bit proper.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the different figures ofthe drawings.

The bit proper (shown in the severalfigures of the drawings) consists ofa divided bar the sections 2 of which are jointed to each other forexample, by means of a pivot. To the opposite ends of the bar or bitproper are pivotally attached in some suitable way (see, for example,Figs. 1 and 2) frames, as 3, which may be of any desirable form. Theframe shown is of skeleton construction, although that shown in Fig. 7is of a little different shape than the type shown in the other figures.The shape of the frame, however, is not one of importance, for it may beof any desirable kind. Each section of the bit proper has a cut-awayportion to receive an outwardly-extending arm, as I, on the complementalsection-as indicatedin Fig. 1, for examplewhen the bit is used as asnaffle or the ordinary bit. \Vhen the bit is employed for controlling avicious horse, however, the bar,

consisting of the sections 2, will be flexed, so as to secure theresults hereinafter set forth.

A spring is shown at 5, and its terminals are shown as provided withhooks, as 6, to engage the outer ends of the arms or projections 1. Whena sufficient stress or pull is put upon the bit proper below the same,as will hereinafter appear, the said bit proper will be first turned andthen flexed, and during the latter the spring or flexible connection 5between the sections 2 will be caused to arch outward and to pressagainst the palate of the horse. \Vhen the pressure upon the said bitproper is relieved, the spring acts to return said bit proper intostraight or normal condition, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The springtherefore serves a double function in acting in one case, or when thebit properis flexed, as a palate-pressing device and in the other torestore said bit proper to its primary relation.

Upon that side of the bit proper opposite the spring 5 is What I willterm a gag 7, made up of an elongated comparatively flat body havingarms extending inward from the same and through longitudinal slots inthe sections 2 near theirjoint. The free ends of these arms are headedor offset to hold the gag in place. .lVhen the bit proper isstraightened or in its normal relation, the

inner face of the body of the gag lits closely against said bit proper,and at this time the offsets at the free ends of the arms of said gaglie in recesses in the projections or arms t. \Vhen the bit proper isturned, it is flexed, as previously indicated, and the spring 5, whichconnects the sections thereof, is arched against the palate of thehorse. Simultaneously with this the gag 7 is caused to press against thetongue or the lower jaw of the animal. In other words, pressure isapplied to those surfaces of the mouth of the animal which are mostsensitive in order to compel him to open his mouth and effectually checkhim.

As previously indicated, I can adapt the bit to ordinary uses as well asthose necessary to effectually check a vicious horse, which checking Isecure in the manner pointed out. It will be remembered that to theouter ends of the bit proper or bar, made up of the sections 2, areconnected frames 3. The frame illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 is practicallyof loop form. At superposed or vertically-separated points I connect tothese frames independent connections, (denoted, respectively,

by 8 and 9,) the opposite ends thereof being l and the latter beingmovable to arch the joined to rings or their equivalents, as 10, towhich the ordinary driving-reins 11 are connected. The lower connection8 in each case may take the form of a strap of leather or, asillustrated, a chain, while the upper connection is one that islongitudinally yieldable, or, as it is shown, a spring connection. Whenthe bit occupies its ordinary position, the lower connections or chains8 will be united with the frames 3 beneath the places at which thespring connections 9 are united to said frames-as clearly indicated, forexample, in Fig. 3.

In the ordinary position, or when the bit is used as an ordinarysnaffle-bit, the spring 5 lies adjacent or immediately forward of thegullet, while the gag 7 is immediately behind the front teeth as shownin Figs. 3 and 5, for example. In this position the bit proper cannot beflexed automatically, for the spring 5 will prevent this. By virtue ofthe spring connections 9 a light pull can be applied to the reins 11without turning the bit proper. Upon a strong pull, however, upon thereins the spring connectlons 9 are longitudinally stretched, so thatthrough the non-yieldable connections 8 the bit proper can be turned inorder to cause its flexing when turned and the pressure of the spring 5against the roof of the mouth or palate and the pressure of the gag 7simultaneously against the tongue or lower jaw. As'the horse to bechecked lowers his head the bit proper will be flexed nearly at a rightangle to the line of the opening of the mouth to cause the said spring 5and the gag? to perform their functions. Said spring and gag are madeflat and broad, so as to ofler as much surface as possible to the partswhich they engage and also prevent the bit from overturning. IVhen theabnormal pull upon the reins is arrested, the spring 5 will return thebit proper to its original position, while the springs 9 by contractionwill automatically resume their original relations.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. Abithavingmovably-connected sections mounted for turning movement, and aspring constituting a palate-pressing device, said spring beingcooperative with said sections spring.

2. A bit havingjointed sections,and a spring constituting apalate-pressing device between and cooperative with the sections,arranged to be arched, to press against the palate of a horse when saidbit is rocked.

3. A bit having jointed sections, each provided with anoutwardly-extending arm, and a spring connected at its opposite endswith the arms and arranged to be arched upon the flexing of the bit.

4. A bit having jointed sections, a spring constituting apalate-pressing device connected with the sections and arranged to bearched when the bit is flexed, and a gag for the tongue or lower jaw,connected with said bit.

5. A bit having jointed sections, a spring constituting apalate-pressingdevice connecting the sections and arranged to be archedwhen the bit is flexed, and agag for the tongue or lower jaw of a horse,movably connected with the sections of the bit and arranged to assume anoperative position on such flexing.

6. A bit having jointed sections, each provided with anoutwardly-extending arm, a spring connected at its opposite ends withthe arms and arranged to be arched upon the flexing of the bit, saidspring constituting a palate-pressing device, and agag for the tongue orlower jaw of an animal, having arms at its opposite ends, the sectionsof the bit having longitudinal slots to receive said arms and forremovably uniting the gag with the bit.

7. A bit having jointed sections, a spring between the jointed sectionsand arranged to be arched on the flexure of the bit, and a gag for thetongue or lower jaw of an animal, having arms at its opposite ends, thesections of the bit having longitudinal slots to receive said arms andfor movably uniting the gag with the bit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

AUGUST L. BE'IHE.

Witnesses:

WVILHELM RANTENBURGER, ALBERT GROTE.

